Combined clutch and latch mechanism



Dec. 1, 1925 G. HAAG COMBINED CLUTCH AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed April 141924 l 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. l ,1925. 1,563,622

G. HAAG COMBINED CLUTCH AND LATCH MECHANISM Filed April 14. 1924 2sheetsneet 2 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

GEORGE HAAG, or PEoRIA, rumors.

COMBINED CLUTCH AND LATCH MECHANISM. l

Application led April 14, 1924. Serial N'o. 706,286.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that GEORGE HAAG, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica,residing at Peoria, Illinois, in the county of Peoria and Stateof Illinois, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Clutch and Latch Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to power operated washing machines, and moreparticularly to a specific clutch and latching mechanism for the tubportion.

The object of my invention is in the provision of a special clutchingmechanism for the tub portion of a power washing machine, said clutchingmechanism having means operating therewith to locate said tub portion ina set position when desired. Y

Another object of my invention is in the provision of a combined latchand clutch mechanism for controlling the movement of the tub portion ofa power washing machine.

A further object of my invention is in the provision of a special latchmeans operating simultaneously with the clutching mechanism to permitlatching of the tub portion of the washer only when said tubv is in anon-clutched relation with the drive mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is in theprovision of a speciallatchmechanism for the tub portion of a power washer, said latch portionoperating simultaneously with the clutch lever, no t only to hold it ineither of its operative positions but also acting additionally toposition the tub :fixedly when desired.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the followingspecification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings in which: yFigure 1 is an end elevation of a power washing machine. i1

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view from above @of the combined clutch andlatch mechanism showing their mounting on the washer.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in detail theoperating portions of .the Clutch and latch ,mechanisch and,

in a bracket 32 which is iXedly attached to Figure 5 is an end elevationof the tub portion.

Referring tothe drawings I have shown a power operated washing machineof the so called oscillating type, said machine having the frame portiondescribed generally as 10, with a supporting means 11 thereunder, uponwhich the drive mechanism shown but generally, is located. Aconventional electric motor 12 drives through related gears the crankarm 13, said crank arm 13 operating the lever 14 which is pivotedthereto as at 15. The upper end of the lever 14 is pivoted at 16 to ashort arm 17 65 which has for its base portion the plate 17a whichprovides the male clutch portion to be later described. A hub portion 18has formed thereupon an outwardly projecting lug 20 adapted to engage acorresponding` slideway 21 formed in the bracket 22 which is positivelyattached by means of numerous bolt members to the tub 19. A lug 23limits the movement of the portion 2O in the slide way 21 and locatesame with relation 7 to the aXis of the tub. An arm'24 integrally castwith the hub 18, has attached thereto in a pivotal manner, a bolt 23a. Acoil spring 26 is fastened to the outer end of the bolt, said springengaging in a similar manner.l another bolt 27 pivoted at.28 in the iframeof the washer.

Referring again to the bracket 22 on the tub portion, attention iscalled to the recesses 29 and 30 formed therein adjacent the top of thetub. The hub 18 projects as shown in Figure 4 through the side of themachine, said hub having as its axis the shaft 31 which is supported atits outer end the Vframe and side portion 33 of the washer. The stubshaft 31 is pinned to the bracket 32 as at 34. This bracket 32 providesalso the supporting portions for the clutch mechanism now to bedescribed.

The plate 17a which forms the male clutch portion provides a bearing forthe hub 18 and is slidable thereon, said clutch portion 17a beingadapted upon the proper movement to engage the `female portions 35 inthe lug `20,A Means for moving the clutch portion 17a into tand out ofengagement with the lug 2O is provided in a cam operated mechanismincluding a tooth 36 engaging a corresponding groove 36av on the clutchportion 17a said tooth having an eccentric mounting upon a rotatablemember 37. Means`4` for rotating the member 37 iS.v provided inthevertically positioned shaft 38 and lever 39 connected to its upper end.A. plate engages the frame portion of the washer as at 41 and provides abearing surface for the lever 39.;v They-plate 4;()5 is re,- cessed at41a as well as at a point 4:2 adjacent the tub or rather adjacent therecesses 29 and 3() which are fashioned in the bracket 22V on the sideof said tub. A latchA 43 is pivoted at 44 in the hub portion 45 of thelever 89 with the result that movement of said lever imparts to saidKlatch a corresponding movement.

The operation of my combined clutch and latch mechanism is as follows:

The operation of' washing clothes necessitates of cou-rse the stoppingof the tub portion during the times when the clothes are placed thereinand also when they are to he Withdrawn. Means for connecting the drivemechanism and the tub portion is provided inthe clutch mechanismincludinfT the n, male portion 17 and the female portion so.

` Means for driving the tub portion is provided in the motor 12 andconventional' lever connections which finally engage thek arm 17' whichis pivotally; engaged tov the male portion 1 7 of the clutch, hence,with the clutch portion 17a engaging the opposed vclutch face 35movement will be transmitted to. the tub portionandV with' adisengagementV of, the clutch portions the oscillatory movement lof thetub ceases.

Means for throwing into and of engagement the clutch mechanism isprovided as heretofore 4described in the eccentric mounting controlledby a hand lever 39. inasmuch as the latch i3 is pivoted' upon the hubportion of said hand lever and rotates therewith,\;inorderto move saidlever 39. it is necessary to depress the inner end 4-6 of the latch inorder to, withdraw the operative end from engagement with one oftherecesses 29 or 3@ on the tub.

In Figure 3 ofthe drawings the clutch operating hand lever 39' is shownin the idle position, that, is with the clutch disengaged and the latcht3 engaging the recess 29 in the tub, thus holding-the tnb stationary.may be seen however that should the inner" end of the latch be;depressed and the hand lever movedy to a posi- .tion on theplateparallel to the shaft 31,

that the @lilith Politi@ 17" would enses@ the female Portion 35'thereby' transmitting movement, te the tub, Said wb haring been releasedby the latch upon the first mol-vement. et the lever 39e Referring againto Figure 3, attention is called to the notch 41a in plate fl() saidnotch receiving the pivoted latch lf3 when the clutch lever is thrown toits clutched position. The above positive location ci the lever preventsaccidental discngecement of the clutch wit-hout the act of firreleasingthe latch member.

The; abo-'ce structure, the operation of which has been described wasdeveloped for the purpose ofv locating the tub portion in an immovableposition and at the same time insuring* against. any danger of movementthereof through some accidental clutch movement. As a matter of fact,the actual clutch shown in the present application is old in: the artand the structure here sho'xin is directedr` to the combined clutchoperating mechanism and latch whereby positioning of the tub in a fixed`position is only possible when the clutch is disengaged. vLikewise withthe clutch mechanism in its operative position the latch member engagesthe recess 411- on the plate to prevent any movement accidental orotherwise of the clutch operating lever 39 without first releasing sai dlatch.

rlhe two notches 29, and 80, are provided for optional placement of thetub either in a vertical: position or a slightly tilted position. Thereason for same being that the operator mayl be standing upon one sideof the tub and therefore, with the latch in notch 30, would have betteraccess thereto, for the wringing operation, to permit movement ofitheftub to: either one of the positions. Releasing of the latch f3 is',of course, necessary with av consequent manual mov-ement of the tub.against the tension of4 the springs. lt is4 obvious., of course, thatla plurality of notches for locating the tub in any desired position,might beused.

What lola-im is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a reversiblymov-ingy tub member, powerv means forL oper-ating said tub, clutchmechanism providing optional engagement ofk the tub and power mechanism,a hand lever adapted to operate said clutch mechanism and a latch memberpivoted on said hand lever and adapted to locate the tub portion in afix-ed posit-ion when said hand lever is in a non-clutched position asvwell as lock`l the hand lever against accidental movement.

2L In a dev-ice ofthe classV described, in combination, a reversiblymov-ing tub portion, driving means therefor, clutch means providingoptional engagement between the tub and portions, a-hand levercontrolling-the operation of said' clutch mechanism and a latchmember'movable with said hand lever and adapted when said hand lever` isin its nQnrGlutcl-ied postQIi, te locate the tub portion in a ixedmanner as Well as lock the hand lever against accidental movement.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a reversible tubmember, power means for operating said tub, clutch mechanism between thetub and power operating means, a hand lever adapted to move said clutchmechanism into an operative or inoperative position and a latch memberoperating simultaneously With said hand lever to hold the latter againstaccidental movement Whenthe clutch is in either operative or inoperativeposition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE HAAG.

